Suns Don’t Enjoy This Block Party

In the NBA, one man’s blocked shot can be another man’s goaltending.

Such was the case when Kevin Garnett blocked Shawn Marion’s short jumper at the buzzer to preserve the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 103-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night at Phoenix.

“That was a good block,” Garnett said. “I mean, you all saw what you saw, but as soon as it left his hand I got it, you know. I’m sitting right here in front of you all with a win.”

The Suns complained vehemently that it was goaltending, but to no avail, and Minnesota had its first victory in five tries against Phoenix.

“I feel like the Seattle Seahawks,” said Steve Nash, referring to what the Seahawks felt were bad calls by officials in Sunday’s Super Bowl. “It’s remarkable. There’s like five games this year where we’ve not gotten a call in the last 30 seconds. After awhile, you realize you don’t get those games back, and it’s tough to take.”

Garnett scored Minnesota’s last five points to finish with 19, but missed the second of two free throws with 14.6 seconds to go. Nash got the ball inside to Marion who went up for what would have been a tying basket from about eight feet, and Garnett soared to knock it down.

“It’s irrelevant right now,” Marion said of the non-call. “We shouldn’t have been in that situation.”

Nash matched his season high with 31 points. Marion had 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight steals in a game that featured 41 turnovers, 24 by Minnesota.

Houston 87, Philadelphia 81 -- Yao Ming had 27 points and 13 rebounds and the Rockets held the 76ers without a field goal from 4:41 of the third quarter until 1:05 remained in the fourth at Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson scored 32 for Philadelphia, which stayed close by making 18 free throws during their field-goal-less stretch.

Utah 109, Chicago 107 -- Mehmet Okur made a three-pointer with seven-tenths of a second left in overtime and Matt Harpring had 28 points for the Jazz, which closed on a 9-1 run at Salt Lake City.

The Bulls’ Andres Nocioni missed a three-pointer at the buzzer. Ben Gordon had 35 points for Chicago.

New Jersey 99, New Orleans 91 -- Richard Jefferson scored 26 points to help the Nets to their 11th straight home victory, moving them to within two of tying the team’s longest home winning streak, set in 2002-2003 and equaled the next season.

Speedy Claxton had 23 points for the Hornets, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Cleveland 89, Milwaukee 86 -- LeBron James had 22 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, including the go-ahead layup with 18.1 seconds left, to help the host Cavaliers end a two-game losing streak. Bobby Simmons scored 21 for Milwaukee.

Miami 114, Boston 98 -- Dwyane Wade had 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists at Miami and the Heat went on a 22-6 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to win for the fifth win in six games.

Paul Pierce scored 31 for the Celtics, who lost their sixth in a row.

Golden State 122, Denver 114 -- Baron Davis had 23 points and 12 assists and Jason Richardson added 28 points as the Warriors used a late 24-1 run at Oakland.

Charlotte 119, Seattle 106 -- Raymond Felton scored 24 points and Melvin Ely added 23, both career highs, and the host Hornets led by as many as 25 in winning their second in a row after ending a team-record 13-game losing streak.

Washington 94, Orlando 82 -- Gilbert Arenas had 23 points to help the host Wizards return to .500 for the first time since Dec. 7.

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The Portland Trail Blazers and Qyntel Woods settled their pay dispute over his 2004 suspension for animal abuse charges, with the now-New York Knick forward getting about $662,000 of his $1.1-million salary for the 2004-05 season. Woods pleaded guilty in Clackamas County in January 2005 to animal abuse and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 80 hours of community service.... Atlanta Hawk guard Tyronn Lue will miss at least four weeks after spraining a ligament in his right knee during Monday’s practice.